Perplexing Words in Jesus’ Sermon

Most of what Jesus preached in what is called the Sermon on the Mount is pretty straightforward easily understood. Matthew presents the composite of his sermon in chapters 5 through 7. However, there are a few comments that may warrant further explanation as he outlined the principles of the kingdom of heaven. The sermon is the governing code for what it would be like if Jesus himself were reigning on earth at this time. It was not his intention to offer a contradiction against the law of Moses but to expound upon its actual meaning.

In chapter 5 verse thirteen Jesus mentioned salt losing its savor. When I first considered this verse, I was confused. However, I discovered that salt can actually lose its saltiness.

In verse twenty-eight Jesus talks about a man committing adultery just because he looks on a woman. The thought here is that if man would lust or dwell on the idea of intimacy with a woman. Jesus is asking the question what’s the difference whether a man does it in his mind or physically with her. That enforces twenty-nine and thirty as it appears that Jesus is telling us to amputate our hand or eye, but he is really saying that we should be in control of our bodies at all times.

In verse thirty-one he talks about divorce but in the context of writing official divorcement papers. In those days it was possible for man to kick a woman out of the house with no means of support or eligibility to remarry. Without such an official divorce the woman could be labeled as an adulterous and guilty of fornication.

In verse forty-eight (King James version) Jesus is quoted as saying that we must be perfect because God is perfect. This is not a lack of sin. The word perfect in this context means to be mature and fully developed or complete. Our goal should be a constant spiritual growth process.

In chapter 6 verse eight Jesus says the Heavenly Father already knows what we need before we ask. This raises the question of why she would pray in the first place. He is drawing a contrast between how heathens pray and how a Christian should pray. He’s not canceling the practice of prayer. He is saying to specifically align ourselves to God’s good will.

In the record of what we call the Lord’s prayer, verse thirteen, Jesus says that we should ask God not to lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil. Never would God lead us into evil! He is saying that as God leads us, help us to avoid that which is evil. Should we find ourselves in a situation in which we are performing or surrounded by evil, we are to ask his help.

In verse twenty he mentions the possibility of having treasures on earth where thieves could “break through and steal.” In many cases houses were built with mud or dirt. So, literally a thief could dig a hole in a person’s wall to gain entrance for thievery.

In verses twenty-two and twenty-three Jesus mentioned an eye being single or evil. He is talking about healthy vision not blindness. Spiritually speaking if we do not have healthy vision where God leads us, we were run amok.

Verse twenty-seven is a powerful psychological comment by Jesus. He is reminding us that we should not allow ourselves to be drawn into a state of anxiety over that which we cannot control, such as adding additional height to our bodies. This is complemented by verse thirty-seven in which we must decide to trust God and not create anxiety over the future.

In chapter 7 versus 16 to 20 Jesus brings up the question of detecting other people’s spiritual condition or behavior. He tells us to be fruit inspectors. This is in contrast to judging other people because judging involves punishment to recompense. If we are fruit inspectors, we will know what persons with whom to associate.

Verses twenty-two and twenty-three answer a perplexing question. When the disciples were sent out by Jesus, they came back marveling how that they were spiritually successful. One might ask how that was possible for Judas who betrayed Christ. However, these two verses remind us that even unbelievers can preach the gospel wherein people are saved and they themselves are still sinners.

Hopefully, through the success in reviewing the sermon that Jesus preached we could more greatly appreciate what he has says to us today.